Growth comparison of Banana cv. Mchare (Huti Green) under full and deficit irrigation conditions in Northern Highlands, Tanzania
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Date
2020-02-15Author
Kibona, Erick
Mbega, Ernest
Mtei, Kelvin
Ndakidemi, Patrick
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Show full item recordAbstract
Drip irrigation in banana farms is an uncommon practice as compared with other horticultural crops. Records
for East African Highland Banana (EAHB) diploid (AA subgroup) cv Mchare-Huti Green (HG) cultivated under
drip irrigation remain unavailable in the study area. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of
drip irrigation on banana growth and bunch yield in the research site situated at 3°23′ 58″ S and 36°47′ 48″ E
at an altitude of 1,188m above sea level in Arumeru District, Arusha Region, northern highlands of Tanzania .
We investigated the performance of HG under Full irrigation (FI) and Deficit Irrigation (DI) treatments, to
assess the influence of drought on banana growth parameters and bunch yield. The results exhibited
significant differences within and between treatments of most tested variables. The mean bunch weight in FI
was (28.3± 1.75kg plant-1) and DI (19.6±0.97kg plant-1) at (p<0.05) and fresh Aboveground biomass (AGB) in
FI (78.81±2.61kg plant-1) and DI (59.23±1.06kg plant-1) at (p<0.05). The correlation coefficient in this study
for growth parameters and bunch weight versus AGB indicated significant closer association exemplified by
pseudostem girth, pseudostem volume height and bunch weight, with correlation 0.44 to 0.73. Conversely, for
bunch weight and its components, correlation ranged from 0.30 to 0.50. The variation in allometric growth
parameters calls for integrated soil water management in banana production to ensure the optimal level of
available moisture for better performance from the vegetative phase to the generative phase.